Would you carry a baby for your best friend?
That's the main hook for Tiny Huge Decisions, a new podcast series I produced that has just released its last episode.
Mohsin and Dalia have been BFFs since they met at university almost twenty years ago. Now, Mohsin has married the love of his life - Matthew. They dream of being parents.
And then, one day, Dalia suggests: maybe she could be the one to make it happen?
The podcast follows the conversations between these two besties as they reach an answer together. It's a will-they-won't-they story, and it's more than a little complicated.
Best case scenario: they make a dream come true together, and bring a new life into the world. Mohsin and Dalia are chosen family, and this could be a joyful celebration of their bond.
But Mohsin has a lot to learn to about surrogacy, pregnancy and fatherhood, and Dalia has her own husband and child to think about.
There are other complexities to navigate - legal, medical, emotional. They'll speak to other surrogates and parents, and to their friends and family. And all the time, at the back of their minds: can we, should we, do this?
But this isn't just a podcast about a potential surrogacy. These are intimate, honest, and vulnerable conversations. They range from the nature of relationships, to the awkward realities of pregnancy; from cherished hopes to deepest fears.
Tiny Huge Decisions is for fans of Esther Perel, or Griefcast -- shows where emotional conversations are given space to breathe.
It's deep, it's moving, and honestly, some of it is really funny.
That's thanks to the incredible openness of Mohsin and Dalia. Listening to Tiny Huge Decisions, you'll hear how their ongoing conversation develops over months -- across lockdowns, video calls, studios and living rooms.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, and at the end, you'll hear their final decision.
This is a very special show and I'm very privileged to have worked on it alongside Ruth Barnes and Louise Mountain for Chalk & Blade, along with Joanne Griffith, Erica Kraus and the team at American Public Media!
The whole series is out now — perfect for a binge listen.
Clockwise from top left: Executive Producer Ruth, Dalia, Mohsin and myself making Tiny Huge Decisions!